Five offers for vacant Gary school buildings have been accepted with the caveat they must be demolished within six months of closing.

Leonard Moody, chief financial officer for the Gary Community School Corp., said at a public forum on Tuesday that a $75,000 bid for Nobel Elementary in the city’s Miller section was rejected because of strong community opposition.

“We listened to what they had to say and based on their input, we decided it wasn’t in the best interests of community to move forward so we rejected it,” Moody said.

The district also rejected a $100,000 bid for Duncan Elementary from Patheon Corp., of Noblesville that said it would build townhouses, offices and a warehouse. Moody said attempts to contact Patheon were unsuccessful.

Combined, the accepted offers totaled $480,000. Moody said the district would make counter offers to nudge the price up.

“It doesn’t seem like a lot of money in the big scheme, but it will enable us to pay teachers, buy books, technology, and reduce our debt,” he said.

Bids were accepted for Franklin, Carver, Jefferson, Ernie Pyle, and the former central office building.

Moody said the district consulted with Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and the state before accepting the bids.

“Price was only one consideration,” Moody said. “We’re hoping to generate funds to cover expenses and to turn some of these brownfields green and turn some of these eyesore properties into tax-producing and job-producing properties and help fuel economic development in the area.”

The biggest bid came from the Gary Housing Authority, which offered $160,000 for Ernie Pyle Elementary, 2521 W. 19th Ave.

The GHA plans to tear the school down and build single-family detached homes or duplexes for senior citizens. The development would include 25 to 50 homes and serve about 81 to 162 residents.

The Indiana-American Water Co. offered $150,000 for Jefferson Elementary, 601 Jackson St. The company plans to use the land for future expansion of its Borman Park Water Treatment plant next door at 650 Madison St.

Little Calumet Greenspace LLC, of Chicago, won a $35,000 bid for Carver Elementary, 2535 Virginia St. A company official said it planned a series of large warehouses for logistics operations. About 1,000 jobs would be created, an official said.

The former central office building at 620 E. 10th Place will be demolished and a citizen household waste drop-off facility will replace it. The $35,000 bid came from Alfred Richardson.

In an earlier round of bidding, the city of Gary offered $100,000 for Franklin Elementary, 600 E. 35th Ave. The city wants to build an affordable housing complex on the property as part of its University Park development plan.

At a Sept. 25 meeting, several Miller residents objected to First Metropolitan Builders, of Gary, plan for Nobel, 601 Pottawatomi Trail. Owner Allan Fefferman said he planned a housing development on the site. Residents said Fefferman owned a vacant motel property on U.S. 20, near Interstate 65, and it’s stood untouched for years.